The Travelers

The Travelers are: Billy and Amanda Contreras, Daryl Johnson, Tim Smith, Eli Bishop, and Abe Stoklasa.

Drawing from a well of musical experience and tradition, The Travelers are true lovers of music in all it's ways, shapes, and forms.

Amanda was born and raised in beautiful and spacious Saskatchewan, Canada. She studied classical violin for thirteen years before discovering that fiddling was much more fun and rewarding. Amanda loves to sing nearly all the time (unless she is sleeping), and also enjoys plunking the piano and strumming the guitar. She is a farm girl at heart and loves to ride fast horses and walk barefoot in the morning dew when she is not making music.

Billy Contreras is a Nashville native. He is a multi-instrumentalist, but fiddle is his main joy. Billy has graced many stages across the country and abroad, including The Grand Ole Opry, The Blue Note, The Ryman Auditorium, The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival,The Kennedy Center, Jazz En Tete in France, The Conan O' Brian Show, The Roxy, Prime Time Country and PBS. He has had the opportunity to perform and/or record with Willie Nelson, Lionel Hampton, Arturo Sandoval, Kenny Baker, Vassar Clements, Benny Martin, Buddy Spicher, John Hartford and Victor Wooten, among others. Billy has taught fiddling and jazz violin at The Mark O' Conner Fiddle Camp in Nashville, The Christian Howes Creative String Workshop in Columbus, Ohio, and The Mount Shasta Fiddle Camp. Billy loves to rock out on the electric guitar. He also plays piano, organ, mandolin, lap steel, and anything else his heart desires. Billy is proud to be the apple of Amanda's eye, and they spend most of their time together writing songs and creating melodies. You might also find them hiking in the hills somewhere in Tennessee.

Daryl Johnson is originally from Memphis. Daryl played for recording artist Robinella before making the move from east Tennessee to Nashville. Daryl listens to a lot of music and can tell you who played on any album, if you ask. Daryl likes to play jazz, rock, pop, country, and the pots and pans in the kitchen. He is a great cook.

Tim is a bass player and producer based in Nashville. Tim is a graduate of the University of Miami where he received a degree in studio music and jazz on electric bass. Tim has appeared on top hits by Tom Jones, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristoferson, and many others. Tim is the most famous member of The Travelers!

Eli is the youngest member of The Travelers. He doesn't even have his driver's license yet (although Amanda tells him he needs to get it all the time!). Eli is a fabulous fiddle player, and has learned from some of the best including Buddy Spicher and Billy Contreras. Eli believes in aliens and can discuss many conspiracy theories with you, if that's what you're into.

Abe is perhaps the only pedal steel guitar player and saxophone player there ever has been. Abe is currently attending Belmont University in Nashville, and spends most of his time writing music, jamming some tunes, and shooting hoops.

The Travelers bring their wide range of musical influences and experiences together in a blend of original music that is like a breath of fresh air. With influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Emmylou Harris and from Beethoven to Coltrane; The Travelers are proud of their original sound, and yet are still able to evoke the truth from a song.